The Silver Boom

Maybe you didn’t know it, but by state law no new nursing homes can be built in Rhode Island unless the owners agree to build a new kind of nursing home. This week state officials approved the application of the first new home since the moratorium began. It’s based on a concept called “culture change.” And Rhode Island Public Radio health care reporter Kristin Gourlay takes us to a home that’s already adopted it.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee has proposed $43 million in cuts to the state's Medicaid program. That's the program that provides health insurance for the poor and disabled. And it's recently been expanded under Obamacare.

And while Chafee's budget wouldn't cut services for Medicaid recipients, it would have an impact on how much health care providers are paid to care for Medicaid patients. To learn more, Rhode Island Public Radio's health care reporter Kristin Gourlay sat down with Virginia Burke, head of the Rhode Island Health Care Association, whose members are mainly nursing homes.

In less than 20 years, a quarter of the state’s population will be older than 60. Rhode Island Public Radio is looking at this growing demographic in a series we call “The Silver Boom: Aging in Rhode Island.”

Rhode Island Public Radio’s Bradley Campbell talked with Warwick’s, Ken Fish. He’s spent most of his life in Rhode Island, and is a leader for gay rights. They started their conversation examining how has life changed for the gay community over the decades.

In less than 20 years, a quarter of the state’s population will be older than 60. Rhode Island Public Radio is looking at this growing demographic in a series we call “The Silver Boom: Aging in Rhode Island.” Weekend Edition Host Bradley Campbell sat down with the Program Coordinator at Sage Rhode Island, Sally Hay, to talk about issues facing the aging gay and lesbian community.

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Explore more stories in our series, The Silver Boom: Aging in Rhode Island.